Portable illuminated sketching ob writing service



C. W. DIMOND.

PORTABLE ILLUMINATED SKETCHING 0R WRITING SERVICE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. l7. 19l8.

Patented Nov. 4, 1919.

2 SHEETSSHEET la "lark flimund vwewboz al ke 4mm,"-

C. W. DIMOND.

PORTABLE ILLUMINATED SKETCHING 0R WRITING SERVICE.

APPLICATION FILED 06131711918. I

1 $329,537., I 4 Patented Nov. 4, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- CLARK w.- nrnr'oivnyor WASHINGTON, nIsTnIcT or COLUMBIA.

PORTABLE ILLUMINAT'ED SKETGHING OR WRITING SERVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 4., 1919.

Application filed October 17, 1918. Serial No. 258,558.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLARK W. DIMOND, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Portable Illuminated Sketching or Writing ing is a speci cation.

This invention relates to a sketching or writing service, an object of the invention being to provide a portable device having a fiat desk or writing surface which is prefera-bly formed by a plate of glass, removably carried by a suit-able casing or housing in which is positioned a reflector which curves upwardly toward the said plate at one end of the housing for difl'using the light rays from an ordinary incandescent light or lamp bulb carried by the housing at the end remote from the curved end of the reflector, and also to provide, within the housing, means for energizing or exciting the said lamp bulb, and further to provide compartments in the housing for retaining paper or sketching material to which access may be conveniently had. v

Often times, a person desires to make a visible record of his thoughts, attimes when writing or sketching material is inconvenient or when the light is insufiicient to permit legible or comprehensive work, and it is an object of this invention to provide an illuminated sketching or" writing service which may be always convenient at hand,

and which will illuminate the paper,.being I sketched or written upon by the diffusion of light rays therethroughfrom the trans-- parent writing surface. 1 1

Other objects of the invention will appear in the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification and in. which drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved portable illuminated sketch or writing service. 7 V

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the same.

Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary horizontal sec-- tion through the service illustrating the Service, of which the followits. upper edge.

switch connection between the lamp bulb and its energizing battery.

Fig. 5 is a detail side elevation in part of the switch structure controlling the energizing or exciting of the lamp bulb.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of the sketching or writing service.

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section through the modified form of the sketching or writing service, and

Fig. 8 is a cross section through the modified form of the sketching or writing service.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, wherein like characters indicate like and corresponding parts, throughout the several views, 1 indicates the casing or body of the service, which is preferably formed of sheet metal or similar light material and of such shape and size as to conveniently fit within the pocket. of the user, so that he may always have it convenient for use. The casing 1 has a top 2 which is hingedly connecte to the upstanding end 3 of'the casing as shown at 4 and this top is held in closed position, against accidental pivotal movement by a catch structure illustrated at 5 which includes depending ears having concavities therein for receiving lugs or outstanding portions formed upon the front surface of the partition 6 near the upper end of the same. This partition 6 extends transversely across the interior of the cas-.

ing 1 near the end 3 thereof, forming a compartment which retains the battery or exciter 7 of the incident lamp bulb 8. The lamp bulb 8 is carried by a socket 9 which is in turn supported by the partition 6, substantially equidistant of its ends and near The central contact of the bulb 8 is connected, by means of a spring ,strip or contact member 10 to the side contact 11 of the battery 7 while the outer con- 1 tact or casing 12 of the bulb is connected by means of an ordinary wire 13 to a switch mechanism comprising flat coil springs 1 1 the normal tendency of which is to flatten. This spring 14 carries a pin 15 which projects through a suitable insulating collar 16 in one side of the casing 1 and is depressed or forced inwardly for moving the free end of the spring 14 into engagement with the central contact 17 of the battery 7 by a slidable switch member 18. The switch member 18 is slidably supported exteriorly of the casing 1 by sultable guides 19-and it carries outstanding lugs 20 for limiting its slidable movement. The slidin switch closer 18 has a beveled surface 21 for ridin over the outer end of the pin 15 and gra ually forcing the pin inwardly to move the free end-of the-spring 14 into engagement with .flector being gradually curved upwardly toward the transparent plate 24 as it ap proaches the end of the casing remote from partition 6 and as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, assisting in guiding the light rays upwardly through the transparent plate 24 which may be of ground glass and which forms the writi or sketching surface of the device upon iiiich the paper is placed during the writing or sketching thereon. The portions of the interior of the casing 1 below the reflector 22 forms a compartment for containing the piece of paper indicated at 24 and the end of the compartment remote from the partition 6 is hingedly connected to the bottom of the casing as shown at 25, and it carries snap fastening devices or catches 26 which are constructed identically with the catch structure 5 for holding the end 27 in opposed position. The curving upwardly of the outer end of the reflector 22 serves the dual function of guiding the light rays upwardly through the transparent plate 24 and it also permits the insertion of ones fingers into the compartment below the reflector for facilitating the removal of a sheet of paper therefrom or one of the pencils indicated at 25 which are retained in the compartmentv 26 separated from the paper containing compartment by a artition 27'.

11 use; the door 27 is open, and a sheet of paper is withdrawn from this compartment and a pencil, pen or the like is withdrawn from the compartment 26, and the sheet of paper is placed upon the transparent plate 24, after which the slidable contact or surface closing member 18 is moved for forcing th spring contact 14 into engagement' with the contact 17 which will cause the energizing or exciting of the bulb 8, the light rays of which will be reflected upwardly through the transparent plate 24, by the deflector or reflector 22. It will be noted, by particular reference to Fig. 2 of the drawings that the plate 24 is prevented from sliding longitudinally in its guide 28 by the upper edge of the door 27 when the latter is closed, thus when the door 27 is opened, the transparent plate 24 may be s read 'or moved out of its guidin flanges 2 if desired. The plate 24 is rigidly held, from downward movement by the angled strips 29 which coact with the "flanges 28 in supporting the plate 24.

In Figs. 6, 7 and 8, the modified form of the sketching or writing service is illustrated, This form is particularly designed to be made in a larger size than the preferred form illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive which preferred form is particularly designed to be carried about in the pocket of the user.

The modified form of the sketching or openings in the sides of the housing 40. A

head 44 is formed upon end of the rod 43 and a nut 45- is threadably mounted upon the other end so that the sides of the housing 40 may be compressed or forced inwardly into engagement with the ends of the core 46 of the roll 42 for breaking the rotation of the roll and consequently retarding. the unwinding of the strip of paper therefrom. The paper, as it passes from the roll 42 passes through a flap 47 in the housing 40 and over the upper surface of the transparent plate 48, and beneath a binder 49. The binder 49 comprises a flat bar having its outer edge beveled as shown at 50 for providing an edge over which the paper may be torn. The ends of thebar of the binder are bent downwardly asshown at 51 andpivotally connected to the sides of the housing 40 so that when an upward pull is administered to the paper extending beyond the binder 49 the binder will be rocked upon its pivot causing its inner or uppermost edge to clamp against the strip of paper clamping the same between the upper edge of the binder and the top 53 of the housing 40, securely holding the paper while the same is torn along the beveled edge ofthe strip or bar.

The top 53 is cut away and it is extended laterally upon each side of the casing 40 to provide guideways 54 which receive and support the riding surface or plate 48. This transparent plate 48 is preferably formed of ground glass. The guide ways 54 open,

out at their ends which are adjacent toethe rounded ends 41 of the housing or casing 40 so as to permit the glass or plate 48 to be removed if desired.

The paper, passing from the roll 42 throughthe opening or slit 47 passes over the rounded end or edge portion 55 of the deflector 56 which rounded edge is formed at the upper terminal of the upwardly curved portion of the reflector, by the downwardly bending rearwardly curving of the terminal 57 of the reflector. The reflector 56 is formed of sheet metal and it may have its upper surface enameled or otherwise prepared to facilitate in the diffusion of the light rays from the lamp 58 evenly through the transparent plate 48 and the paper which is passed thereover. The reflector plate 56 is bent downwardly and upwardly forming a substantially V-shaped portion 59 which engages the bottom of the casing 40 and against the depending plate 60 which carries the socket 61 in which the lamp bulb 58 is mounted. The'outermost upstanding side of the V-shaped portion 59 may be provided with a cut-out portion to engage about the socket 61.

The energizing of the lamp bulb 58 is controlled through a switch structure identical with the switch structure described in the preferred form of the invention, namely one embodying a pin 15 which is forced inwardly by the sliding movement of a slidable member 18 to close the circuit from the battery 7 through the socket 61 and the bulb 58. The sliding contact operating member 18 is identical with the construction of the member 18 being slidably supported on one side of the housing 40 b guide members 19 and limited in its sli able movement by lugs 20 carried. thereby for engagement with the ends of one of the guides 19. The battery 7 a which may be of any conventional type is carried within the housing or casing 40 beneath the reflector plate 56, being seated in a suitable battery container 61 which prevents sliding movement of the battery during the movement of the improved sketching or writing service. It will be noted by reference to Fig. 7 of the drawings, that the curved portion of the reflector 56 is removed from the light bulb 58 and that it will engage the light rays passing directly from the bulb longitudinally of the sides and deflect them upwardly through the transparent plate 48 for rendering the paper passed thereover clearly visible and asisting the person using the device in writing or sketching, in dark places. It will also be appreciated that the device may be employed for copying or tracing sketches,

drawings or the like, this being accom-v plished by the inserting of the sketch or drawing to be traced between the paper which passes over the plate 48. and the plate, allowing the light rays to penetrate the sketch or drawing to be copied, the plate 48 and the portion of paper from the roll which passes over. the drawing, thereby rendering the lines of th drawing visible through the top paper. 7

Changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit of this invention, but; i

I claim:

1. In a portable illuminated sketching or writing service,-the-=combination of a portable casing, a transparent plate carried by the casing, a partition in said casing at one end of said transparent plate, a light carried deflecting the light rays from said light through said transparent plate.

3. In a portable illuminated sketching or writmg service, the combination of a transparent plate, a partition in said casing at one end of said transparent plate, a lamp carried by said partition, a reflector beneath said plate and extending straight away from the lamp for a portion of its length and concavely curving upwardly toward said plate at its end portion remote from said lamp.

4. In a portable illuminated sketching or writing service, the combination of a portable casing, a transparent plate removably carried by said, casing, a partition within the casing at one end thereof, a lamp carried by said partition, means for energizing said lamp carried within the portion of the casing divided off by said partition, a contact carried by said partition and establishing energizing connection between the lamp and the energizing means, and a switch mechanism carried by said casing for controlling the energizing of the lamp.

5. In a portable illuminated sketching or writing service, the combination of a portable casing, guideways formed on said casmg, a transparent plate removably carried by said guideways, a partition at one end of said casing, a lamp carried by said partition, a reflector beneath the said plate and extending straightaway from the lamp for a portion of its length and concavely curving upwardly toward said plate at its end portion remote from said lamp, means for energizing said light carried within said casing within the portion divided oil? by said partition, and a switch mechanism carried by said casing for controlling the energizing of the lamp.

6. In a portable illuminated sketching or writing service, the combination of a portable casing, a transparent plate removably carried by said casing, a partition within the casing at one end thereof, a lamp carried by said partition, means for energizing said lamp carried within the portion of the easing divided off by said partition, a contact carried by ,said partition and establishing energizing connection between the lamp and the energizing means, and a switch mechanism carried by said casing for controlling the energizing of the lamp, a reflector within said casing beneath said transparent plate and extending straight away from the lamp the casing, a lamp carried by said partition,

a reflector beneath said plate and extending straight away from said partition for a portion of its length and concavely curving upwardly toward the plate at its end portion remote from'said lamp.

8. In a portable illuminated sketchingor writing service, the combination, of a pocket size portable casing, a transparent plate removably carried by one face of said casing, a partition extending transversely through the casing, a lamp carried by said partition, a reflector beneath said plate and extending straight away from said partition for a portion of its length and concavely curving 'upwardly toward the plate at its end portion remote from said lamp, the end of said casing remote from said partition being hingedly connected to the main body of the casing and forming means to prevent accidental disconnection between said transparent plate and easing, when the end is in its closed position.

9. In a portable illuminating sketching or writing service, the combination of a caslng, atransparent plate carried at one side of said casmg, a lamp within said casing, a reflector plate carried within said casing beneath said transparent plate, one end of said casing being hingedly connected to the casing to permit access to the interior thereof, guides formed upon said casing and slidably supporting said transparent plate, said hinged endengaging one end of the transparent plate and preventing sliding movement thereof when the end is in a closed position.

10. In a portable illuminated sketching or writing service, the combination of a portable casing, a transparent plate carried at one side of said casing, a lamp within said casing, a reflector plate carried within the casing beneath said transparent plate and extending straight away from the lamp for a portion of its length and concavely curving upwardly toward said plate at its end portion remote from the lamp, the end of said casing adjacent the curved portion of said reflector being hingedly connected to the casing to permit access to the interior of the casing below said .reflector, the interior of said casing below said reflector forming a magazine for retaining sheets of paper, guides formed upon said casing and slldably supporting t said transparent plate, hinged end engaging one end of the transparent plate and preventin sliding movement thereof when the'en is in a closed position.

11. In a portable illuminated sketching or writing service, the combination of a portable casing, a transparent plate carried at one side of said casing, a lamp within said casing, a reflector plate carried within the casing beneath said transparent plate and extending straight away from the lamp for a portion of its length. and concavely curving upwardly toward said plate at its end portion remote from the lamp, the end of said casing adjacent the curved portion of said reflector being hingedly connected to the casing to permit access to the interior of the casing below said reflector, the interior of said casing below said reflector forming a magazine for retaining sheets of aper, guides formed upon said casing and slidably supporting said transparent plate, said hinged end engaging one end of the transparent plate and preventing sliding movement thereof when the end is in a closed position, means for energizing said lamp, and a switch mechanism carried by said casing for controlling the energizing of the lamp.

12. In a portable illuminated sketching or writing service, the combination, of a casing, guide ways formed on said casing, a transparent plate removably carried by said .guide ways, a lamp, a reflector beneath said plate and extending straight away from the lamp for a portion of its length, and concavely curving upwardly toward said plate at its end portion remote from said lamp, a vertical longitudinally extending partition within said casing dividing the space beneath said reflector into a relatively large compartment, and a relatively small compartment, the endof said casing adjacent the curved portion of said reflector being hingedly connected to the casing to permit access to said compartment.

13. In a portable illuminated sketching or writing service, the combination, of a casing, guide ways formed on said casing, a transparent plate removably carried by said guide ways, a lamp, a reflector beneath said plate said and extending straight away from the lamp for a portion of its length, and concavely curving upwardly toward said plate at its end portion remote from said lamp, a vertical longitudinally extending partition to said compartment, said hinged end en- I Within said casing dividing the space be gaging one end of said transparent plate and neath said reflector into a relatively large preventing sliding movement thereof, when 10 compartment, and a relatively small comthe end is in a closed position, and means for partment, the end of said casing adjacent the normally maintaining said end in a closed curved portion of said reflector being hingposition.

edly connected to the casing to permit access CLARK W. DIMOND. 

